Teeth »ᴄɵᴍᴘᴌᴇтᴇ«

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-SEVEN

Consciousness returned slowly. The first thing I felt was an a heavy weight over my waist. An arm. And I knew without turning that it was Zane. I could feel his mind right behind me. I tried pulling out, but his arm just gripped me tighter.

"Where are you going?" Zane asked, his voice think with sleep.

At the question, I stopped fighting him. I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know what I had planned to do. Pace the room? Go outside? I had no idea what I'd planned to do. I just felt... restless. I needed to move.

As the door opened, I knew who it was before he entered. Rowan. He entered with his long tawny hair with a reddish tint up in a ponytail which still meant that it hung to his knees, just a little higher that it would have fallen if it had been loose. He was wearing clothes that were miles too big for him, but overall, he seemed fine. Not hurt.

"Have you eaten?" I asked Rowan, my voice thick.

Rowan smiled at me before nodding and glancing at Zane wearily. "Best food I've had in ages."

As he got closer, I could feel him warring with his mind. Telling himself that he shouldn't have enjoyed the food. Not with his sister where she was.

I sighed and tapped the bed in front of me. Again, I saw him glance at Zane before climbing onto the bed and laying down. We ended up so that my back was against Zane's front, and Rowan's front was against mine.

As I felt sleep try to claim me again, Rowan spoke. "I'm sorry, Valerie."

Zane beat me to responding. "You're sorry? You're sorry for what? Raping her? Binding her to you?"

"I didn't know!" Rowan clung to my arm in desperation. It made me suddenly think of Archie. "I only did it because they have my sister! I didn't know it would be more! I just wanted to keep my sister safe."

I pulled Rowan into my arms as he cried. I'd forgiven him. Plus I could feel how much he was beating himself up over it. But just because I'd forgiven him and could feel how he was feeling, didn't mean I wasn't angry, or hurt that he would do that just to save another. But then, I wondered what I would have done in his position. Commit rape or death of loved one? It was a hard choice. One Rowan had to make on the spot.

"I don't blame you, Rowan," I said.

Rowan froze. "What?"

"You don't blame him?" I could feel Zane's rage like a burning sun within him.

"No," I replied to both of them. "It was either this – which allowed us to escape – or your sisters death. It wasn't fair for you to have to make a choice like you had on the spot. No, I blame the Tri-moons.

"Now," I continued. "Can you both stop thinking? I need sleep."

They gave me mumbled words, I wasn't sure what they had said, but, I didn't care as sleep took over.

   

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